PERSONS in close contact with patient 40, the 54-year-old Filipino man who was confined and died at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC), are expected to be isolated or quarantined, a health official said.

NMMC chief Dr. Jose Chan said around 50 health workers are subject for quarantine. They are those who were in close contact with the patient during the examination and treatment, doctors and nurses, and any person in the hospital who came inside and outside of the patient's isolation room.

"We already advised the people in close contact with the patient to remain in the hospital and not go out even during the death of the patient," Chan said in a press conference Saturday, March 14.

He added that it will depend on the result of the examination whether the persons involved will be quarantined or admitted in the hospital as persons under investigation (PUI).

Chan also assured that at present, they still have enough medical personnel at NMMC in case of a surge in the number of PUIS or another positive coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients.

Meanwhile, Mayor Oscar Moreno has ordered the disinfection of several public places in Cagayan de Oro.

Dr. Lorraine Nery of the City Health Office said the disinfection activity covers the City Hall, the city health premises, some churches and mosque in the city, and public markets.

They have also continued the monitoring of persons under monitoring and people coming in from abroad and Metro Manila.

"City Health Office health emergency medical services are continuously monitoring and doing surveillance activities of the reports coming in from our Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams," Nery said.

The Health Incident Command System is in place and was activated last Saturday, March 14.